Father’s Day: Paternal Depression and the Needs of Fathers in the NICU

AbstractThe current study examined trajectories of maternal and paternal depression in the year following the birth of an infant sibling, and relations with family risk factors and firstborn children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Latent class growth analysis was conducted on 231 families in a longitudinal investigation (prebirth and 1, 4, 8, and 12 months postbirth) and revealed four classes of families: both mother and father low in depressive symptoms (40.7%); mother high–father low (25.1%); father high–mother low (24.7%), and both mother and father high (9.5%). Families with both mothers and fathers high on depressive symptoms were higher on marital negativity, parenting stress, and children's internalizing and externalizing problems, and lower on marital positivity and parental efficacy than other classes. Children, parents, and marital relationships were more problematic in families with fathers higher on depressive symptoms than in families in which mothers were higher, indicating the significant role of paternal support for firstborn children undergoing the transition to siblinghood. Maternal and paternal depression covaried with an accumulation of family risks over time, no doubt increasing the likelihood of children's problematic adjustment after the birth of their infant sibling.

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Testing the Autoregressive Cross-Lagged Effects Among Paternal Depression, Affective Parenting and Children's Externalizing Behavior Problems

Korean Journal of Child Studies ◽

10.5723/kjcs.2018.39.3.73 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 73-82

Author(s):

Youngmi Kim ◽

Hana Song

Keyword(s):

Behavior Problems ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Externalizing Behavior Problems ◽

Paternal Depression ◽

Lagged Effects

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Psychosocial impairment in offspring of depressed parents

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291705005350 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 35 (10) ◽

pp. 1493-1503 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

PETER M. LEWINSOHN ◽

THOMAS M. OLINO ◽

DANIEL N. KLEIN

Keyword(s):

Social Competence ◽

Young Adulthood ◽

Psychosocial Functioning ◽

Adolescent Depression ◽

Subsequent Development ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Paternal Depression ◽

Diagnostic Interviews ◽

The Impact ◽

Depressed Parents

Background. Offspring of depressed parents experience impairment in a number of domains of functioning. Few studies have examined the impact of both maternal and paternal depression and co-morbid psychopathology on offspring functioning.Method. Oregon Adolescent Depression Project participants were administered diagnostic interviews and completed measures of psychosocial functioning during adolescence (mean=16·6, S.D.=1·19) and again during young adulthood (mean=24·5, S.D.=0·51). Diagnostic interviews were also conducted with the mothers and fathers of the target individual.Results. After controlling for relevant demographic characteristics, parental co-morbid psychopathology, and offspring psychopathology, maternal depression was associated with higher levels of physical symptoms (β=0·14, S.E.=0·07) during adolescence, and higher levels of minor stressors (β=2·52, S.E.=1·07) and a greater risk for using mental health services (OR 1·86, 95% CI 1·14–3·03) in young adulthood. Paternal depression was associated with offspring experiencing more major stressors (β=0·27, S.E.=0·07), having lower perceived social competence (β=−0·17, S.E.=0·08), and being more likely to attempt suicide (OR 2·65, 95% CI 1·19–5·92) during adolescence, as well as lower perceived social competence (β=−1·21, S.E.=0·49) in young adulthood.Conclusions. Offspring of depressed parents demonstrate impairment in a variety of domains, even after controlling for the effects of their own psychopathology. Further research on the mechanisms that lead to these impairments, as well as the role of these impairments in the subsequent development of psychopathology, is warranted.

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Focus on fathers: paternal depression in the perinatal period

Perspectives in Public Health ◽

10.1177/1757913918790597 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 139 (4) ◽

pp. 195-198 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

S Glasser ◽

L Lerner-Geva

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Postpartum Depression ◽

Maternal Depression ◽

Healthcare Costs ◽

English Language ◽

Severe Depression ◽

Well Being ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Significant Degree ◽

Paternal Depression

Aims: This report aims to present a concise overview and synthesis of current research findings regarding paternal depression in the perinatal period. Methods: A literature search was conducted, primarily via PubMed and PsychNET, for English-language research studies and meta-analyses using combinations of the terms ‘perinatal’, ‘pregnancy’, ‘postpartum’, ‘depression’ AND ‘fathers’ OR ‘paternal’. Peer-reviewed articles were considered, and a representative sample of literature, with an emphasis on recent publications from a broad range of populations was summarized for each of the following sub-sections: prevalence, risk factors, impact on the infant/child, and healthcare costs. Results: Reported prevalence has ranged from 2.3% to 8.4%, with a significant degree of heterogeneity in rates, due to differences in multiple aspects of the methodology (timing, instruments, etc.). Nevertheless, rates of maternal depression remain higher than paternal depression, and higher rates of one are associated with higher rates of the other. The primary risk factors for paternal depression are maternal depression and the father’s history of severe depression, or symptoms of depression or anxiety prenatally. Biological mechanisms may underlie paternal depression, with changes reported in testosterone, cortisol and prolactin levels during this period. Paternal depression has been related to children’s behavioral, emotional and social function at 36 months and psychiatric disorders at 7 years, adjusting for maternal depression. Healthcare costs may also be impacted by paternal postpartum depression, with higher father–child dyad costs found after controlling for potential confounders. Conclusions: Focusing on fathers’ emotional well-being in the perinatal period is important in itself, as well as for their wives and children. Programs recommending screening for maternal perinatal mood and anxiety disorders should include inquiry regarding the father’s emotional state, and if his distress is reported it should be clarified and followed-up by support and intervention as necessary.

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